Atherectomy device having trapping and excising means for removal of plaque from the aorta and other arteries

ABSTRACT

An arterial catheter system for removing plaque from the aorta and other arteries is disclosed. The system typically includes an elongate catheter member, a filtration apparatus disposed within the distal region, and an atherectomy assembly which includes a mechanism for trapping and holding mobile or fixed plaque and an excising mechanism for removing the plaque. In use, the catheter is positioned so that the atherectomy assembly lies within a region of interest, the filtration apparatus is deployed downstream of the region of interest, the plaque is trapped and held by a snare, vacuum, or other trapping means, and then the excising mechanism is activated to remove the plaque. Methods are also disclosed for removing plaque from the aorta and other arteries.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/335,849, filed Jun. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,851, which inturn is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/022,179, filed Feb.11, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,557, which in turn is a divisional ofU.S. application Ser. No. 08/863,159, filed May 27, 1997, now U.S. Pat.5,993,469, which in turn is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.08/683,503, filed Jul. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,671.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for excising mobile andnon-mobile atheromatous plaque from the aortic wall and valve and alsoother arteries such as the carotid arteries and femoral arteries. Thedevices include an atherectomy catheter system for operation in theaorta, common carotid artery, external and internal carotid arteries,brachiocephalic trunk, middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery,posterior cerebral artery, vertebral artery, basilar artery, subclavianartery, brachial artery, axillary artery, iliac artery, renal artery,femoral artery, popliteal artery, celiac artery, superior mesentericartery, inferior mesenteric artery, anterior tibial artery, posteriortibial artery and all other arteries carrying oxygenated blood, and thecatheter may optionally include blood filter means which enable thecapture of plaque inadvertently dislodged during an atherectomyprocedure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The importance of the aorta as a source of emboli has only recentlybecome apparent since the advent of transesophageal echocardiography(TEE). This technique has enabled physicians to visualize the aorticwall in great detail and to quantify atheromatous aortic plaqueaccording to thickness, degree of intraluminal protrusion, and presenceor absence of mobile components. See Katz et al., Journal of theAmerican College of Cardiology 20:70-77 (1992), this and all otherreferences cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference as ifset forth herein in their entirety. Anecdotal reports linking embolicevents to the presence of mobile aortic atheroma have lead tolarge-scale studies aimed at establishing the exact relationship betweenaortic atheromatosis and cerebral embolization. See Flory, AmericanJournal of Pathology 21:549-565 (1945); Beal et al., Neurology31:860-865 (1981); Soloway et al., Archives of Neurology 11:657-667(1973); Russell et al., Stroke 22:253-258 (1991); and Tunick et al.,Annals of Internal Medicine 114:391-392 (1991).

In 1992, and again in 1994, Amarenco disclosed an unequivocalassociation between embolic stroke and TEE-detected aortic plaque,especially in the presence of mobile plaque. See Amarenco et al., Stroke23:1005-1009 (1992); and Amarenco et al., New England Journal ofMedicine 331:1474-1479 (1994). Amarenco performed a prospective,case-control study of the frequency and thickness of atheroscleroticplaques in the ascending aorta and proximal arch in 250 patients withstroke and in 250 controls. Amarenco found protruding plaque (4 mm) in14.4% of patients with stroke but only 2% of control. Plaques of allthickness were associated with stroke, but the association was strongestfor plaques more than 4 mm in thickness. Protruding plaque was presentin 28.2% of 78 patients with stroke of unknown cause, compared with 8.1%of 172 patients with stroke of known or likely causes. Furthermore,mobile plaque was present in 7.7% of patients with stroke of unknowncause, compared with only 0.6% of patients with stroke of known cause.The association between protruding atheroma and stroke was strongest forascending aorta and proximal arch, but weaker for the distal arch anddescending aortic disease.

Ulcerated aortic plaque, the pathologic correlate of TEE-detected mobileplaque, was present in autopsies of 26% of 239 patients withcerebrovascular disease as compared with 5% of 261 patients with otherneurologic diseases. The prevalence of ulcerated arch lesions was 61%among 28 patients with no known causes of brain infarction, as comparedwith 22% among 155 patients with a known cause of infarction. SeeAmarenco et al., New England Journal of medicine 326:221-225 (1992).

Amarenco and others showed prospectively (following patients for twoyears) a strong correlation between mobile plaque and embolic stroke oremboli to the legs and/or kidneys. In an attempt to investigate thevalue of aortic atheroma in predicting future vascular events, Tunickfollowed 42 patients with TEE-detected protruding atheroma and an equalnumber of controls for up to two years. See Tunick et al., Journal ofthe American College of Cardiology 23:1085-1090 (1994). Fourteen (33%)patients with protruding plaque had 19 embolic events, as compared with3 out of 42 (7%) controls. These observations have been independentlyconfirmed by a number of other recent studies on risk factors of embolicstroke. See Tunick et al., American Heart Journal 120:658-660 (1990),Karalis et al., Journal of the American College of Cardiology 17:73-78(1991), Tunick et al., Annals of Internal Medicine 115:423-427 (1991),Tunick et al., 1American Heart Journal 124:239-241 (1992), Horowitz etal., Neurology 42:1602-1604 (1992), Toyoda et al., Stroke 23:1056-1061(1992), Nihoyannopoulos et al., American Journal of Cardiology71:1208-1212 (1993), Davila-Roman et al., Stroke 25:2010-2016 (1994),and the French Study of Aortic Plaques in Stroke Group, New EnglandJournal of Medicine 334(19):1216-1221 (1996).

The danger of embolic stroke from atheroma present in the aorta,especially of mobile plaque, has been shown in patients undergoingcardiac surgery, and this effect is due to mechanical manipulationsperformed on the aorta during cardiac surgery. See Hartman et al.,Anesthesia Analgesia 1996 (in press), Gold et al., Journal of ThoracicCardiovascular Surgery 110:1302-1314 (1995), Marshall et al., Annals ofThoracic Surgery 48:339-344 (1989), Katz et al., Journal of AmericanCollege of Cardiology 20:70-77 (1992); and Hosoda et al., Journal ofCardiovascular Surgery 32:301-306 (1991). In fact, among patientsundergoing coronary bypass surgery, aortic atheromatosis has emerged asthe single most important factor in perioperative neurologic morbidity.See Tunick et al., Annals of Internal Medicine 114:391-392 (1991);Karalis et al., Journal of the American College of Cardiology 17:73-78(1991); Marschall et al., Journal of Cardiothoracic Vascular Anesthesia8:5-13 (1994); Blauth et al., Journal of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery103:1104-1112 (1992); Wareing et al., Journal of Thoracic CardiovascularSurgery 103:453-462 (1992); Ribakove et al., Annals of Thoracic Surgery53:758-763 (1992); Brillrnan, Neurologic Clinics 11:475-495 (1993); andAmarenco et al., Stroke 23:1005-1009 (1992). As the number of elderlypatients undergoing bypass surgery has increased, the decline in overallmortality and cardiac morbidity achieved by improvements in surgical andanesthetic techniques has been largely obscured by increasing neurologiccomplication rates. See Loop et al., Cleveland Clinical Journal ofMedicine 55:23-24 (1988); Hill et al., Annals of Thoracic Surgery7:409-419 (1969); Gardner et al., Annals of Thoracic Surgery 40:574-581(1985); and Cosgrove et al., Journal of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery88:673-684 (1984). Aortic atheroma increases sharply with age, from 20%in the fifth decade at necropsy to 80% over the age of 75 years, andstroke rate increases from 1% in patients 51 to 60 years to 7% or morein those over 75 years. See Fisher et al., Journal of Neuropathology andExperimental Neurology 24:455-476 (1965); Amarenco et al., Stroke23:1005-1009 (1992); Marschall et al., Journal of CardiothoracicVascular Anesthesia 8:5-13 (1994); Blauth et al., Journal of ThoracicCardiovascular Surgery 103:1104-1112 (1992); Wareing et al., Annals ofThoracic Surgery 55: 1400-1408 (1993); and Davila-Roman et al.,Circulation 84 III-47-III-53, 1991 [suppl 3]; Wareing et al., Journal ofThoracic Cardiovascular Surgery 103:453-462 (1992); Gardner et al.,Annals of Thoracic Surgery 40:574-581 (1985); Cosgrove et al., Journalof Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery 88:673-684 (1984); Davila-Roman etal., Stroke 25:2010-2016 (1994); Bar-El et al., Journal of ThoracicCardiovascular Surgery 104:469-474 (1992); and Saloman et al., Journalof Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery 101:209-218 (1991). Among patientsdying after coronary bypass surgery, evidence of atheroembolism waspresent in only 4.5% in 1982, and in as many as 48% in 1989. See Wareinget al., Journal of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery 103:453-462 (1992).

Embolization from the aorta, particularly to the brain, is therefore amajor problem, and emboli from this source can lead to stroke,myocardial infarction, kidney infarcts, and peripheral emboli in otherorgans. There is a presently unfulfilled need for an atherectomy devicefor use in the aorta to prevent the above identified disorders arisingfrom embolization. Moreover, it will be understood that fixed plaqueexists both in the aorta and in the carotid arteries which may also leadto stroke by embolization. Thus, there is a presently unfulfilled needfor an atherectomy device for use in both aorta and carotid arteries toprevent embolization from such fixed plaque. Another site at which fixedplaque may build up is in the iliac and femoral arteries. Claudicationmay result from inadequate blood flow in or embolization to the iliacand femoral arteries. A need therefore exists for an atherectomy devicefor use in the iliac and femoral arteries to prevent claudication byincreasing blood flow and also preventing embolization to the lowerextremities.

The coronary arteries, by contrast, present entirely differentconsiderations with respect to atherectomy. In the coronary arteries,myocardial ischemia or infarction is typically caused by a reduction inblood flow by reason of the build up of atheroma causing stenosis,rather than dislodgment of embolic material from such plaques.Atherectomy in the coronary arteries therefore prevents myocardialinfarction by increasing blood flow due to an enlargement of the luminaldiameter on removal of stenosis. Accordingly, there exists an extensivebody of literature which addresses the use of atherectomy in relation tostenosis as applied in the coronary arteries. For example, Fischell,U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,454, discloses a retrograde cutting atherectomycatheter designed to perform atherectomy on an eccentric stenosis bycutting plaque from one part of an arterial wall while shielding anormal portion of the arterial wall from being cut. Fischell, U.S. Pat.No. 4,898,575, discloses a tunneling catheter system which rides on aguidewire for percutaneous transluminal atherectomy. Rydell, U.S. Pat.No. 4,857,045, discloses an atherectomy catheter having a motor drivencutting member and capabilities for flushing the treatment site andaspirating a flushing liquid so as to remove debris loosened during aprocedure. Moreover, Yock, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,794,931, 5,000,185, and5,313,949, disclose catheters having a cutting member for atherectomyand an ultrasound transducer which enables ultrasonography incombination with atherectomy. Meanwhile, Jang et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,507,292, discusses abrasive atherectomy in combination with ultrasoundimaging. The patent and medical literature is replete with additionaldisclosures of atherectomy as applied to the coronary arteries, and thissubject will not be further discussed here for the sake of brevity. Theinterested reader is referred to the following disclosures for moreinformation: Farr, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,950,277, 4,986,807, 5,019,088,Shiber, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,894,051, 4,957,482, 4,979,939, 5,007,896,5,024,651, 5,135,531, Summers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,265, Plassche et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,576, Belknap, U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,464, Jang et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,790, Mazur et al., Catherization and CardiovascularDiagnosis 31:79-84 (1994), Fischell et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,061,5,100,425. It will be appreciated that coronary artery atherectomydevices do not prevent embolization, but this does not appear to be amajor consequence during this procedure.

Insofar as we are aware, however, there has been no disclosure of anatherectomy catheter adapted for trapping and removing mobile plaque orfixed plaque in the aorta, carotid, or femoral arteries and having anability to remove embolic material generated during the procedure.Accordingly, a need exists for an arterial atherectomy catheter havingan ability to entrap and/or snare, and thereafter remove aortic,carotid, and femoral artery plaque without generating atheromatousembolization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We have discovered that mobile aortic plaque present in the aorta is amajor contributor to the occurrence and recurrence of ischemic stroke.Mobile aortic plaque is a term that refers to vascular depositscomprising a solidified base and a floppy projection attached to thebase. The floppy projection is most easily dislodged by normal pulsatingblood flow or by an invasive procedure such as angiography, angioplasty,stenting, or cardiac surgery, and may produce embolic material. Thebuild up of mobile aortic plaque, as well as the number and extent ofthe floppy projections, increases with age and therefore the risk ofischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and systemic emboli due torelease of a floppy projection into the blood stream also increases withage.

Atherectomy of the aorta can prevent each of the above diseases fromoccurring, but can also cause these diseases unless the atherectomydevice is specially designed to enter the aorta without scraping againstplaque, or includes a filter which is inserted and deployed to captureembolic material dislodged during the procedure. While reduction inblood flow is typically not a problem in the aorta due to the largediameter of this vessel, in the carotid arteries, fixed plaque poses arisk of stroke by embolization, and presents an additional threat ofreducing blood flow by occluding the vessel lumen. Thus, atherectomy inthe carotid arteries can prevent stroke by either increasing blood flowor reducing the potential for formation of embolic material. However,carotid atherectomy also poses a risk in that the atherectomy instrumentcan dislodge plaque, and thereby cause stroke by embolization. Fixedplaque is also present in the descending aorta and its dislodgment maycause kidney infarcts or ischemia to other end-organs. Fixed plaque isalso present in the iliac arteries and femoral arteries which in turnmay cause peripheral leg ischemia either through distal embolization ofatheromatous material or through in situ stenosis of the diseased bloodvessel (narrowing of luminal diameter). Femoral artery atherectomyprevents appendicular claudication caused by plaque occluding the lumenof the femoral artery; atherectomy, however, results in distalembolization of atheromatous material which in turn may cause limbischemia.

The present invention relates to arterial medical devices which areadapted to remove mobile aortic plaque without generating embolicmaterial which can create a risk of ischemic stroke. As discussed above,numerous medical devices have been proposed for atherectomy in thecoronary arteries. However, these devices do not reduce the risk ofembolization associated with such procedures; the catheters themselvesare likely to dislodge plaque material during positioning, and thesedevices do not include structures to prevent escape of embolic material.By contrast, the devices of the present invention generally include anarterial atherectomy catheter having suction means or a mechanicaltrapping device which acts to draw in and secure a mobile plaque. Mobileplaque, without trapping, presents a target difficult to maintain incontact. The atherectomy devices herein further include a cutting memberto excise plaque once captured by the device, and optionally include ablood filter mechanism. Moreover, the invention includes methods ofusing the devices to remove plaque from the aortic wall, aortic valve,carotid arteries, and/or femoral artery. Those devices which include afilter mechanism will remove embolic material from blood, and therebyprevent occurrence of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction or systemicembolus. Embolic material in this setting is any constituent of blood,or atheromatous material and superimposed thrombus, which may causecomplications in the body if allowed to travel freely in the bloodstream. This matter includes, but is not limited to, atheromatousfragments, fat, platelets, fibrin, clots, or gaseous material.

In one embodiment, the medical device comprises an arterial cathetersystem which includes a flexible elongate member or catheter having anouter surface, a distal region adapted to enter an artery, and aproximal region which extends from a patient's vessel and permitscontrol outside the patient's body by a physician. At the distal regionof the catheter is provided an atherectomy assembly which includes anexcising member, e.g., a cutting blade, abrasive member, wire cutter,jaws, claws, pincher, snare, etc., and a trapping mechanism which, incertain embodiments, comprises an open-ended tubular member whichextends to the proximal region of the catheter and is attached to avacuum source. In other embodiments, the trapping mechanism comprises asnare, adjustable orifice, basket, grabber, opening in a tube, etc. Thetrapping and cutting of plaque may occur simultaneously or sequentiallyin either order. The atherectomy assembly may optionally further includemeans for intravascular imaging, e.g., an ultrasonic transducer, whichmeans are fully described in the art and will not be further discussedhere.

The arterial catheter system may also include a filtration mesh,typically disposed circumferentially about the distal region of thecatheter. Devices for use in the aorta and femoral artery will typicallyhave the filtration mesh proximal to the atherectomy assembly, whereasthe catheter for carotid artery atherectomy will have the filtrationmesh distal to the atherectomy assembly, so that in all cases filtrationoccurs downstream of atherectomy. The filter will typically include acontinuous mesh having a first edge which is closely associated with theouter surface of the catheter and a second edge attached to an expansionmechanism which is expandable between a contracted condition and anenlarged condition. The construction and use of expansion means andassociated filter mesh on an arterial blood cannula have been thoroughlydiscussed in our earlier applications including Barbut et al., U.S.application Ser. No. 08/553,137, filed Nov. 7, 1995, Barbut et al., U.S.application Ser. No. 08/580,223, filed Dec. 28, 1995, Barbut et al.,U.S. application Ser. No. 08/584,759, filed Jan. 9, 1996, Barbut et al.,U.S. application Ser. No. 08/640,015, filed Apr. 30, 1996, and Barbut etal., U.S. application Ser. No. 08/645,762, filed May 14, 1996, and thecontents of each of these prior applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety. It will be understood that the design anduse of a filter mesh and associated expansion means as discussed inthese applications is fully applicable to the use of such filter andexpansion means on an arterial catheter system as disclosed herein.Moreover, it will be understood that the filter mesh need not bedisposed circumferentially about the catheter, but may be arranged onone side, or distal to the distal end of the catheter. These otherconfigurations are possible so long as the filter may be expanded tocover substantially the entire vessel lumen so that substantially allblood flowing downstream is filtered.

The methods of the present invention include protecting a patient fromembolization during an atherectomy procedure to remove plaque from theaorta (aortic wall, aortic valve, or aortic root), common carotidartery, external and internal carotid arteries, brachiocephalic trunk,middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, posterior cerebralartery, vertebral artery, basilar artery, subclavian artery, brachialartery, axillary artery, iliac artery, renal artery, femoral artery,popliteal artery, celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, inferiormesenteric artery, anterior tibial artery, posterior tibial artery andall other arteries carry oxygenated blood. The physician will typicallydetermine the presence and location of mobile plaque using one or moreof a number of visualization techniques including transesophagealechocardiography (TEE), epiaortic ultrasonography. Another visualizationtechnique, intravascular ultrasound, may also be useful in evaluatingthe presence and location of mobile plaque in the aorta, carotid, andfemoral artery. Unlike the other techniques mentioned, intravascularultrasound visualizes the blood vessel from its inside. TranscranialDoppler ultrasonography may be used for cerebral monitoring of emboliduring the atherectomy procedure.

In use, the distal end of the arterial catheter is inserted and deployedthrough an incision in the femoral or brachial artery in a manner widelyused for deployment of coronary artery angioplasty, atherectomy, andultrasonography catheters. Thus, certain procedures are so-called denovo catheterizations performed for the purpose of removing plaque fromthe aorta, common carotid artery, external and internal carotidarteries, brachiocephalic trunk, middle cerebral artery, anteriorcerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery, vertebral artery, basilarartery, subclavian artery, brachial artery, axillary artery, iliacartery, renal artery, femoral artery, popliteal artery, celiac artery,superior mesenteric artery, inferior mesenteric artery, anterior tibialartery, posterior tibial artery and all other arteries carry oxygenatedblood. In other cases, the present invention will be an add-on procedureat the end of, or possibly before, a cardiac catheterization procedure.In either case, the procedure will typically be conducted in a standard“catheterization laboratory” rather than an operating room, although usein an operating room is an option.

The distal region of the catheter is advanced within the femoral orbrachial artery until the distal end reaches a region of interest in theaorta, carotid, or femoral artery (a region having plaque which is to beremoved). Advancement of the catheter tip may be assisted by X-rayfluoroscopy, and the distal region of the catheter may include one ormore fluoroscopic markers to enable such visualization. Advancement mayalso be assisted by IVUS or TEE, or by a conventional guidewire and/or aguiding catheter, both of which are known in the art for coronarycatheterization. Typically, it is difficult to navigate the aortic archwithout some assistance from visualization, mechanical guidance, orboth. Where associated filtration is to be used (a feature which isoptional), the expansion means, including associated mesh, is inflatedor deployed to expand and thereby achieve contact if need be with theinner wall of the artery. Once the filtration means are in place anddeployed, a trapping mechanism (suction, claws, jaws, or an orifice witha mouth having an adjustable opening) is positioned in close proximityto the plaque of interest, and thereafter activated in order to draw inand secure the plaque. In the absence of such a grabbing mechanism, theplaque would present a moving target which is difficult to cut with anydegree of accuracy, and could embolize by reason of contact with themedical device.

The plaque is securely held by the atherectomy assembly, and a cuttingmechanism is deployed to remove or excise the plaque or a portionthereof. For atherectomy of mobile aortic plaque, it will be understoodthat before, during and after cutting, the floppy projection istypically held secure by the atherectomy assembly and therefore does notitself present a risk of release to form an embolus. In certainembodiments, grabbing and cutting of plaque will be simultaneouslyconducted, while in other embodiments, these steps are sequential and ineither order. However, it is desirable to have an associated filterdeployed downstream of the atherectomy assembly because the process ofimmobilizing and cutting plaque material may cause dislodgment ofembolic material from the region of interest in the artery.

After the mobile plaque is excised and retained in the atherectomydevice, the expansion means and filtration system, if used, arecontracted by deflating or collapsing to resume a small shape in closecontact with the outer surface of the catheter. The catheter, withcaptured embolic material in the atherectomy and optionally in thefiltration system, is then withdrawn from the artery of interest andback into the femoral artery where it is ultimately removed from thepatient's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to a brief description of the drawings, which areintended to illustrate an arterial catheter system for use herein. Thedrawings and detailed description which follow are intended to be merelyillustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view of an arterial catheter system having itsdistal end positioned in the ascending aorta during use;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view of an arterial catheter system for use asdepicted in FIG. 1, shown without a surrounding vessel;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the catheter depicted in FIG. 2shown through section line 2A—2A;

FIG. 3 depicts an atherectomy cutting assembly for use in an arterialcatheter system as disclosed herein;

FIG. 4 depicts an atherectomy cutting assembly for use in an arterialcatheter system as disclosed herein;

FIG. 4A depicts an atherectomy cutting assembly having an adjustableorifice;

FIG. 5 depicts an atherectomy cutting assembly as shown in FIG. 3 havinga mobile aortic plaque engaged by the cutting assembly;

FIG. 6 depicts an atherectomy cutting assembly for use in an arterialcatheter system as disclosed herein;

FIGS. 7 and 7A depicts a cutting blade which is received by the housingto comprise a cutting assembly for use in an arterial catheter system asdisclosed herein;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal view of an arterial catheter system having itsdistal end positioned in the ascending aorta, and using a snare as atrapping mechanism for mobile aortic plaque;

FIG. 9A depicts an atherectomy assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment having a basket with an adjustable opening at a distal end;

FIG. 9B depicts the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 9A in a collapsedcondition;

FIG. 10 depicts an atherectomy cutting assembly having a adjustableorifice for trapping plaque and a cutting blade operably disposedbeneath the adjustable orifice;

FIG. 11A depicts an atherectomy assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment, and having claws which operate to grab plaque material;

FIG. 11B depicts the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 11A, in an opencondition;

FIG. 12A depicts an atherectomy assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment, having partial spherical surfaces which pivot to close uponplaque material;

FIG. 12B depicts the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 12A in the closedcondition;

FIG. 12C depicts the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 12B as viewed from itsdistal tip;

FIG. 13A depicts an atherectomy assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment, having more than one window to receive plaque material;

FIG. 13B depicts the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 13A viewed from above;

FIG. 13C depicts the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 13B with the cuttingassembly translated to close off windows which receive plaque;

FIG. 14A depicts an atherectomy assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment, having a basket and a cutting wire or snare to excise plaquematerial;

FIGS. 14B, 14C, and 14D show a top view of the atherectomy assemblydepicted in 14A, with activation of a cutting wire to excise plaque;

FIG. 15A shows an atherectomy assembly in an alternative embodiment,having forward grabbing capabilities, while FIG. 15B depicts theatherectomy assembly in an open configuration;

FIGS. 16A and 16B show an atherectomy assembly in an alternativeembodiment, viewed from a side and from above;

FIG. 16C shows the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 16A as viewed from itsdistal end, while FIG. 16D shows the atherectomy assembly of FIG. 16C ina closed configuration;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal view of an arterial catheter system for use inthe carotid arteries;

FIG. 18 depicts a filtering and positioning atherectomy guide catheter;

FIG. 19 depicts a positioning atherectomy guide catheter;

FIG. 20 depicts an atherectomy catheter having an atherectomy assemblyas shown in FIGS. 14A-14D, including positioning struts;

FIGS. 21 and 21A depict an atherectomy catheter deployed in the aorticarch and using positioning struts to deflect away from plaque;

FIGS. 22 and 22A depict an atherectomy catheter having clamping fingersand associated mesh for forward removal of plaque; and

FIGS. 23 and 23A depict an atherectomy catheter having plaque retentionmeans.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a first embodiment, an arterial atherectomy catheter with associatedfilter is provided as depicted in FIG. 1. The catheter system includes aflexible elongate member 50 having an outer surface, a distal region 51adapted to enter an artery, and a proximal region. In certainembodiments, the catheter system includes filtration assembly 69 havingan expansion means, typically comprising inflation seal 70, disposedabout distal region 51 of flexible elongate member 50, wherein inflationseal 70 is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlargedcondition. The filtration assembly will further include mesh 75 which isoperably connected to inflation seal 70 at a first edge, and is closelyassociated with the outer surface of elongate member 50 at a secondedge. Thus, in a contracted condition, inflation seal 70 and mesh 75 canbe inserted through the femoral artery and up through aorta 99 into aregion of interest, and thereafter expanded by injection of fluid or gasinto inflation seal 70 to thereby achieve contact with the inner lumenof aorta 99. The arterial catheter system further includes atherectomyassembly 80 disposed within distal region 51 of elongate member 50, anddistal to filtration assembly 69. Atherectomy assembly 80 generallyincludes cutting blade 81 or other means to remove atheromatous plaquefrom aorta 99 or the femoral artery, and suction means 82 which maycomprise the inner lumen of catheter 50, or a separate tubular membercarried therein. During operation, mobile aortic plaque 98 is trappedand held securely by suction means 82 and simultaneously excised fromthe arterial lumen by cutting blade 81.

An exploded view of the arterial catheter system is depicted in FIG. 2.For this embodiment, elongate member 50 includes atherectomy assembly 80at its distal end. The atherectomy assembly includes distally locatedcutting blade 81, suction means 82 comprising a separate tubular memberhoused within the lumen of elongate member 50 and which may or may notextend beyond the distal opening of elongate member 50, and means forintravascular imaging 83 which may include an ultrasound transducer forintravascular ultrasound which is constructed in accordance withtechnology well known in the art. Where IVUS is used, the IVUS componentmay be deployed through a separate or the same catheter which houses theatherectomy assembly.

In certain embodiments as discussed above, filtration is an importantfeature of the atherectomy catheter. To filter blood effectively, i.e.,to capture embolic material, without unduly disrupting blood flow, themesh must have the appropriate physical characteristics, including area(AM), thread diameter (DT), and pore size (SP). In the aorta, the mesh75 must permit flow rates as high as 3 L/min or more, more preferably3.5 L/min or more, more preferably 4 L/min or more, more preferably 4.5L/min or more, more preferably 5 L/min or more preferably 5.5 L/min ormore, and most preferably 6 L/min or more at pre-filter maximum systolicpressures (proximal to the mesh) of around 200 mm Hg or less.

The plaques to be excised by the atherectomy procedures herein will varyin size, and may be as large as 2 cm in diameter, more typically 1.5 cmor larger in diameter, more typically 1 cm or larger in diameter, moretypically 0.5 cm or larger in diameter, more typically 0.1 cm or largerin diameter. The particles of plaque inadvertently dislodged during aprocedure are generally much smaller, and these dislodged particles arethe particles to be captured by the filtration system. In order tocapture as many dislodged particles as possible, mesh with theappropriate pore size must be chosen. With reference to embolic materialdislodged from the aorta, individual particle diameter ranges from 0.05mm to 2.88 mm, with a mean diameter of 0.85 mm, and individual particlevolume ranges from 6.5×10−5 mm3 to 12.45 mm3, with a mean particlevolume of 0.32 mm 3. Approximately 27 percent of the particles have beenfound to measure 0.6 mm or less in diameter. During cardiac bypasssurgery in particular, the total aortic embolic load has been found torange from 570 mm³ to 11200 mm³, with a mean of 3700 mm³, and anestimated cerebral embolic load has been found to range from 60 mm³ to510 mm³, with a mean of 276 mm³. During aortic atherectomy, materialsdislodged as emboli have similar characteristics.

By way of example, when a device as disclosed herein is intended for usein the aorta, the area of the mesh required for the device is calculatedfrom Bemoulli's equation as described in our earlier applicationsincluding Barbut et al., U.S. application Ser. No., U.S. applicationSer. No. 08/553,137, filed Nov. 7, 1995, Barbut et al., U.S. applicationSer. No. 08/580,223, filed Dec. 28, 1995, Barbut et al., U.S.application Ser. No. 08/584,759, filed Jan. 9, 1996, Barbut et al., U.S.application Ser. No. 08/640,015, filed Apr. 30, 1996, and Barbut et al.,and U.S. application Ser. No. 08/645,762, filed May 14, 1996.

In an embodiment of an arterial atherectomy catheter that is to be usedin the aorta, mesh with dimensions within the following ranges isdesirable: mesh area is 0.5-10 in², more preferably 1-9 in², morepreferably 2-8 in² more preferably 3-8 in², more preferably 4-8 in²,more preferably 5-7 in²; mesh thickness is 60-280 μm, more preferably70-270 μm, more preferably 80-260 μm, more preferably 90-250 μm, morepreferably 100-250 μm, more preferably 120-230 μm, more preferably140-210 μm; thread diameter is 30-145 μm, more preferably 40-135 μm,more preferably 50-125 μm, more preferably 60-115 μm, more preferably70-105 μm, and pore size is 500 μm or less, more preferably 400 μm orless, more preferably 300 μm or less, more preferably 200 μm or less,more preferably 100 μm or less, more preferably 50 μm or less andusually larger than at least a red blood cell. In a preferred embodimentof the invention, mesh area is 2-8 in², mesh thickness is 60-200 μm,thread diameter is 30-100 μm, and pore size is 50-300 μm. In a furtherpreferred embodiment of the invention, mesh area is 3-5 in², meshthickness is 60-150 μm, thread diameter is 50-80 μm, and pore size is100-250 μm.

Once appropriate physical characteristics are determined, suitable meshcan be found among standard meshes known in the art. For example,polyester meshes may be used, such as meshes made by Saati Corporationsand Tetko Inc. These are available in sheet form and can be easily cutand formed into a desired shape. In a preferred embodiment, the mesh issonic welded into a cone shape. Other meshes known in the art, whichhave the desired physical characteristics, are also suitable.Anticoagulants, such as heparin and heparinoids, may be applied to themesh to reduce the chances of blood clotting on the mesh. Anticoagulantsother than heparinoids also may be used, e.g., monoclonal antibodiessuch as ReoPro (Centocor). The anticoagulant may be painted or sprayedonto the mesh. A chemical dip comprising the anticoagulant also may beused. Other methods known in the art for applying chemicals to mesh maybe used.

In an embodiment of the devices suited for placement in the aorta, theexpansion means, upon deployment, has an outer diameter of approximately20 mm, more preferably 25 mm, more preferably 30 mm, more preferably 35mm, more preferably 40 mm, and most preferably 42 mm, or greater. Theexpansion means, when fully inflated, has a thickness of 2-5 mm. Thedimensions of the expansion means may be adjusted in alternativeembodiments adapted for use in vessels other than the aorta.Alternatively, expandable members other than a balloon also may be usedwith this invention. Other expandable members include the umbrella framewith a plurality of arms as described in U.S. application Ser. Nos.08/533,137, 08/580,223, and 08/584,759.

All components of this device should be composed of materials suitablefor insertion into the body. Additionally, sizes of all components aredetermined by dimensional parameters of the vessels in which the devicesare intended to be used. These parameters are known by those skilled inthe art.

Filtration of blood in the aorta will usually be conducted while theheart is functioning normally, i.e., without the use of cardiopulmonarybypass. Thus, blood pressure will be typically 50-200 mm Hg, blood flowwill be approximately 5 L/min., and the pressure gradient will have nomore than a 40 mm Hg drop across the filter when open (i.e., the filtermay not be used in some embodiments). Modification of the operationalcharacteristics set forth above for use in vessels other than the aortaare readily ascertainable by those skilled in the art in view of thepresent disclosure. An advantage of all embodiments including a filterdisclosed herein is that the blood filter will capture emboli which mayresult from the atherectomy procedure which is performed using thedistal end of the catheter. Another advantage is that both theatherectomy assembly and the filter means enter the vessel through thesame incision created for the catheter, and therefore the devices andmethods herein economize on incisions made in the blood vessel, oftenthe femoral artery.

In addition, use of visualization techniques is also contemplated inorder to determine the location and size of mobile aortic plaque, and tohelp position the atherectomy assembly to engage mobile plaque which isto be excised. In particular, it is desirable to have a catheter havingsteering capabilities so that the tip can be guided to position theatherectomy assembly to engage plaque. Steerability can be accomplishedusing pull wires in accordance with techniques known in the art. SeeEdwards et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,453, Lundquist et al., U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,395,327, 5,254,089, 5,336,182, 5,254,088, 5,315,996, 5,254,088,5,195,968, and 5,531,686, Jaraczewski et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,487,757and 5,318,525, and Truckai, U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,304. Steeringcapabilities may permit single axis steering (bending in a plane), ordouble axis steering (bending in 3-dimensional space), such as is knownin the art for electrophysiology catheters. The range of motion for thecatheter tip should permit bending (from a straight catheter) to 30 μm,more preferably to 60 μm, more preferably to 90 μm, more preferably to120 μm or more. In a preferred embodiment, steering is used inconjunction with TEE or intravascular ultrasound to locate and positionthe catheter tip near to a plaque, and engage the plaque. Moreover,visualization techniques can be used to determine which patients requirefiltration (identify risk factors), where to effectively position ablood filter device to maximize effectiveness, when to adjust the deviceif adjustment is necessary, when to actuate the device, and appropriateregions for performing any procedures required on a patient's bloodvessel.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a visualizationtechnique, such as TEE or intravascular ultrasound, is used to assistwith placement of the atherectomy assembly, and to determine when toactuate a blood filter device. For example, during aortic atherectomy,emboli may be dislodged during positioning of the atherectomy assembly,as well as during operation of the cutting assembly. Therefore, a meshmay be opened within a vessel downstream of the aorta during theseprocedures and closed when embolization resulting from these procedureshas ceased. Closing the mesh when filtration is not required helps tominimize obstruction of the blood flow and minimize the dislodgment ofemboli by the filter itself.

According to another embodiment, a visualization technique is used tolocate a series of mobile plaques in the aorta. The catheter may then beoperated iteratively to locate by TEE, IVUS, or other imaging techniqueand remove each plaque from the descending aorta to the aortic root, andeven on the aortic valve. It will be understood that, where iterativeatherectomy is performed, the atherectomy assembly and/or cathetershould have an ability to store excised plaque on board without havingit escape into the blood stream. Thus, the catheter may be equipped withapparatus to grind, abrade, or break plaque into smaller particles forstorage or aspiration through a lumen of the catheter. In oneembodiment, a cutter blade will advance and remove plaque and depositthe plaque in a distal cavity within a housing. In another embodiment,the excised plaque is drawn away from the site of cutting by suction.The plaque may be drawn proximally by aspiration until it reaches anarea where it can be stored, usually a short distance proximal withinthe housing. In another embodiment, plaque is abraded by an abrasivemember and aspirated or otherwise stored in the catheter housing. In yeta further embodiment, the catheter provides an auger which is used tobore through a plaque. The tool may have a substantially helical bladewhich, when rotated, advances excised particles proximally, as if caughtin the threads of a rotating screw.

Visualization can also be used to follow the progress of the atherectomyprocedure, and to monitor emboli in the aorta to evaluate theeffectiveness of a blood filter device in trapping emboli. Moreover, theuser can engage and excise additional plaque if monitoring indicatesthat a first cutting procedure has not adequately removed the portion ofplaque presenting a risk to a patient, or if the first cutting procedurereveals a second plaque material buried under a first plaque which hasalready been removed. According to yet another embodiment, avisualization technique, such as intravascular ultrasonography, TEE, andepicardial aortic ultrasonography, is used as described above, and toidentify those patients requiring blood filtration according to thepresent invention. For example, these visualization techniques may beused to identify patients who are likely to experience embolization dueto the presence of mobile plaque. These techniques may be used beforethe patient undergoes any type of procedure which will affect a bloodvessel in which mobile plaque is located. Transcranial Doppler may beused for cerebral monitoring of emboli during the atherectomy procedure.

Visualization techniques, other than those already mentioned, as areknown to those skilled in the art, are also useful in ascertaining thecontours of a blood vessel affected by surgical procedure to assess avariety of risk factors for embolization, and to locate appropriatesections of a vessel for performing certain procedures. Any suitablevisualization device may be used to evaluate the efficacy of a device,such as those disclosed herein, in trapping emboli.

With reference to FIG. 1, the distal region of flexible elongate member50 is shown with blood filtration means deployed in the ascending regionof a human aorta 99. Flexible catheter 50 will typically be of a size nogreater than about IOF, and this size is dictated by the size of theintroducer used in the femoral artery. Catheter size is not generallyrestricted by the vessel lumen because the aorta has an internal lumenof about 10-40 mm. The distal region of flexible elongate member 50 isshown again in FIG. 2, and may include a plurality of spokes or holdingstrings 55 made from Dacron(or other suitable material. Holding strings55 connect distal region 51 of catheter 50 to expansion means 70,preferably an inflation seal which comprises a continuous ring of thintubing attached to filter mesh 75 on its outer edge. Alternativeexpansion means based on a mechanical expanding mechanism similar to anumbrella frame are described in U.S. application Ser. Nos. 08/553,137,08/580,223, 08/584,759, 08/640,015, and 08/645,762. Filter mesh 75 isbonded at a second edge around the circumference of the outer surface ofcatheter 50, preferably at a cross-sectional position near distal end 51of catheter 50.

Inflation seal 70 may be constructed from elastomeric or non-elastomerictubular material which encloses a donut-shaped chamber 71. Whendeployed, the inflation seal will expand to a diameter which fitstightly against the lumen of aorta 99 or femoral artery. The inflationseal will thus be capable of expansion to an outer diameter of at least1 cm, more preferably at least 1.5 cm, more preferably at least 2 cm,more preferably at least 2.5 cm, more preferably at least 3 cm, morepreferably at least 3.5 cm, more preferably at least 4 cm, morepreferably at least 4.5 cm, more preferably at least 5 cm, morepreferably at least 5.5 cm, more preferably at least 6 cm. These rangescover suitable diameters for both pediatric use and adult use. Theinflation seal is typically a continuous ring of very thin tubingattached on one side to the filter mesh and on the other side to thepressurizing cannula by holding strings.

The inflation seal should be able to maintain an internal pressure inchamber 71, without bursting, of greater than 55 mm Hg, more preferablygreater than 60 mm Hg, more preferably greater than 70 mm Hg, morepreferably greater than 80 mm Hg, more preferably greater than 90 mm Hg,more preferably greater than 100 mm Hg, more preferably greater than 110mm Hg, more preferably greater than 120 mm Hg, more preferably greaterthan 130 mm Hg, more preferably greater than 140 mm Hg, more preferablygreater than 150 mm Hg. The internal pressure needed will depend on thepressure maintained in the aorta against the mesh. Thus, if the aorticpressure is 55 mm Hg, then the pressure in the inflation seal must begreater than 55 mm Hg to prevent leakage around the seal. Typically, theaortic pressure will be at least 75 mm Hg because this level of pressureis needed to ensure adequate brain perfusion. It will be recognized thatsuch inflation seal pressures are much higher than the maximum levelthat can be used in the pulmonary venous system because the veins andarteries therein will typically hold no more than about 40-50 mm Hg, orat most 60 mm Hg without rupture.

Chamber 71 is in fluid communication with first tubular passage 56 andsecond tubular passage 57 which permit chamber 71 to be inflated withgas, or preferably a fluid such as saline. The first tubular passage 56is in fluid communication with lumen 56 (shown in FIG. 2A) of flexibleelongate member 50, while second tubular passage 57 is in fluidcommunication with lumen 57 of pressurizing cannula 50. The first andsecond tubular passages thereby interconnect chamber 71 with theinflation and evacuation lumens, respectively, of flexible elongatemember 50.

In certain embodiments, inflation seal 70 will include septum 58 whichblocks the movement of fluid in one direction around chamber 71. If theseptum is positioned in close proximity to the fluid entry port, thenthe injection of fluid will push all gas in chamber 71 around inflationseal 70 and out through the second passage. In one embodiment, the entryport and the exit port are positioned in close proximity, with theseptum disposed between the entry and exit port. In this case, injectionof fluid will force virtually all gas out of inflation seal 70.

Filter mesh 75 is bonded at a first edge to inflation seal 70 and at asecond edge to flexible elongate member 50. Mesh 75 can be made of amaterial which is reinforced or non-reinforced. Mesh 75, when expandedas shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, may assume a substantially conical shape witha truncated distal region. The mesh should be formed of a materialhaving a pore size which captures objects 5 mm in diameter or less, morepreferably 3 mm in diameter, more preferably less than 3 mm, morepreferably less than 2.75 mm, more preferably less than 2.5 mm, morepreferably less than 2.25 mm, more preferably less than 2 mm, morepreferably less than 1.5 mm, more preferably less than 1 mm, morepreferably less than 0.75 mm, more preferably less than 0.5 mm, morepreferably less than 0.25 mm, more preferably less than 0.1 mm, morepreferably less than 0.075 mm, more preferably less than 0.05 mm, morepreferably less than 0.025 mm, more preferably 0.02 mm, and down tosizes just larger than a red blood cell. It will be understood that fora given pore size that blocks particles of a certain size as statedabove, that pore size will block all particles larger than that size aswell. It should also be understood that the necessary pore size is afunction of blood throughput, surface area of the mesh, and the pressureon the proximal and distal side of the mesh. For example, if athroughput of 5-6 L/min. is desired at a cross-section of the aortahaving a diameter of 40 mm, and a pressure of 120 mm Hg will be appliedto the proximal side of the mesh to obtain a distal pressure of 80 mmHg, then a pore size of about ≧50 μm is needed. By contrast, in thepulmonary artery the same throughput is needed, but the arterycross-section has a diameter of only 30 mm. Moreover, the proximalpressure is typically 40-60 mm Hg, while the distal pressure is about 20mm Hg. Thus, a much larger pore size is needed to maintain blood flow.If pore sizes as disclosed herein for the aorta were used in thepulmonary artery, the blood throughput would be insufficient to maintainblood oxygenation, and the patient would suffer right ventricularfailure because of pulmonary artery hypertension. If pore sizes as usedin the pulmonary artery were used in the aorta or femoral artery,adequate blood oxygenation would be maintained, but a flurry of embolicmaterial would escape filtration because the pore sizes of the mesh aretoo large to capture smaller size embolic materials.

With reference to FIG. 2, it will be understood that cutting means 81and suction means 82 may be replaced by any of a number of atherectomyworking elements which allow trapping of mobile aortic plaque by suctionand simultaneous removal of at least a portion of this plaque bycutting. Thus, one embodiment of an atherectomy cutting device isdepicted in FIG. 3. The cutting assembly includes housing 110 which maybe formed integral with or molded onto the distal tip of flexibleelongate member 50. The distal region of housing 110 includes opening123 shaped to receive a portion, including the floppy region, of mobileaortic plaque. A flexible rotatable member 120 is disposed within lumen111 of housing 110 and is shaped to permit rotation as well aslongitudinal translation relative to housing 110. Rotatable member 120has an interior lumen 121 which extends proximal from the distal regionof rotatable member 120. At its distal tip, rotatable member 120includes working element 122 which is optionally a dome-shapedinstrument. Working element 122 includes cutting blade 124 which alignsoperatively with opening 123 of housing 110 in order to shear offmaterial protruding through opening 123. In use, a vacuum is drawn onone or both of lumen 111 or lumen 121 and the opening in working element122 is aligned with opening 123 on housing 110 in order to provide acontinuous and open passage to receive mobile aortic plaque. Opening 123is positioned so that such plaque is drawn into and through the opening,and held securely in place. Rotatable member 120 is then rotated tooperate blade 124 on working element 122 so that blade 124 sweeps acrossthe back surface of opening 123 and thereby shears off atheromatousplaque held through this opening. Excised plaque is drawn within lumen121 and/or working element 122 by vacuum, and is held there to ensurethat such materials do not escape as embolic material into the aortic orfemoral artery blood stream. The use of a device as shown in FIG. 3 isdepicted with mobile aortic plaque engaged through opening 123 in FIG.5.

In another embodiment, an atherectomy cutting assembly is provided atthe end of flexible elongate tubular member 50 as depicted in FIG. 4.The atherectomy assembly includes housing 130 having inner lumen 132 anddistal opening 131 adapted to receive mobile aortic plaque through suchopening. In certain embodiments, opening 131 has fixed dimensions. Inother embodiments (FIG. 4A), housing 130 includes adjustable orifice 131which can be narrowed to opening 131A so as to grip plaque and holdplaque for cutting or pinching by the orifice. The assembly furtherincludes elongate member 140 slideably received within lumen 132 ofhousing 130, and having distal edge 141 which is sharpened to act as acutting blade. Circular blade 141 has a recessed interior which is influid communication with lumen 132 which extends through elongate member140. In use, a vacuum is drawn on lumen 142 and member 140 is drawnproximal, such that blade 141 will not obstruct opening 131 of housing130. Mobile aortic plaque is drawn through opening 131 by the influenceof such vacuum, and member 140 is thereafter translated longitudinallyand distally so that blade 141 sweeps across the edge of opening 131 andthereby excises atheromatous plaque extending through opening 131.Plaque debris thus excised is either compressed and deposited within thedome-shaped region at the distal tip of housing 130, or is drawn bysuction into and through lumen 142.

A variation on the side cutter shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A is depicted inFIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13C. With reference to FIG. 13B, catheter 50includes at its distal end more than one opening 265 for plaque toenter. This feature renders the atherectomy assembly less sensitive toorientation and direction for receiving plaque material. Distal housing260 is supported and connected to catheter 50 by a plurality of struts261, which will typically comprise two, three, four, or more struts. Aside view of struts 261 is shown in FIG. 13A. With reference to FIG.13B, the catheter includes cutting blade 262 which is a generallycylindrical member having a sharpened distal edge 263 to cut plaque. Inuse, plaque material is received through side openings 265, and blade262 is advanced distally, as shown in FIG. 13C, to excise the plaque.

A further embodiment having a side cutter is shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B,14C, and 14D. With reference to FIG. 14A, catheter 50 includes basket270 attached to rim 271 at connection seam 272. FIG. 14B shows catheter50 as viewed from above. The catheter further includes cutting wire orsnare 273 which is attached at one end to post 274, and at its other endis operable from the proximal region of the catheter. Snare 273 extendsinto basket 270 and around the circumference of rim 271 beforeactivation. Plaque material is received by the basket, and snare 273 isdrawn in a proximal direction as shown in FIGS. 14C and 14D in order toexcise plaque during use.

In another embodiment, a basket side cutter is provided as shown inFIGS. 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D. With reference to FIG. 16B, catheter 50includes pivot member 293 extending from a distal end thereof.Semicircular rims 290 and 292 are pivotally connected to member 293, andeach rim carries a basket 291A and 291B. FIGS. 16C and 16D show a viewof the catheter from the distal end. In use, the rims and baskets areoperated to close about a plaque, and excise the plaque by pinching orcutting. Plaque material, once removed, falls into the closed basket,and thereafter presents no risk of embolization. The basket can beremoved from the patient while closed, or the plaque can be drawn intothe catheter housing and stored therein. Thereafter, the basket can bereopened to perform atherectomy on another plaque.

In another embodiment, an atherectomy assembly is provided at the distalregion of flexible elongate member 50 as depicted in FIG. 6. Theatherectomy assembly includes housing 150 having inner lumen 152 andside opening 151 disposed about the distal region of housing 150. Lumen152 is adapted to receive elongate member 160 which is twisted in ahelical manner about its distal region 162. Edge 161 of member 160 issharpened to provide a cutting blade which is capable of shearingatheromatous plaque when positioned to engage such plaque. Thus, in use,a vacuum is drawn on lumen 152, and this suction will pull mobile aorticplaque into and through opening 151. Member 160 is then operated byrotation to bring blade 161 into contact with the engaged mobile aorticplaque, and to sweep across opening 151, thereby excising the plaquewhich is securely held within housing 150.

In another embodiment, an atherectomy assembly is provided as depictedin FIG. 7. The assembly includes housing 170 having opening 171 in adistal region 180 and adapted to receive mobile aortic plaque fromwithin an artery. Rotatable member 180 is disposed within the lumen ofhousing 170, the rotatable assembly having lumen 182 and a semicircularportion of the cylindrical member cut away in the distal region. Thesemicircular region includes cutting blade 181 which can be sharpened tocut atheromatous plaque. With reference to FIG. 7A, rotatable member 180includes, at its distal extremity, a region which is angled to deflectaway from the longitudinal centerline of member 180. When disposedwithin the lumen of housing 170, the angle of deflection in member 180ensures that blade 181 is biased against the lumen of housing 170 andthereby ensures a snug fit. In use, a suction is drawn through lumen 182which secures plaque in a region of interest through opening 171. Member180 is then rotated to bring blade 181 into contact with the mobileaortic plaque drawn through opening 171. Plaque material is therebyshaven from the aorta, and the snug fit between blade 181 and the lumenof housing 170 allows maximization of the amount of plaque materialexcised.

Another embodiment having a snare as a trapping mechanism is depicted inFIG. 8. This figure shows an atherectomy filtration catheter havingsnare 200 disposed in the distal region thereof. Snare 200 is positionedover a plaque and thereby engages the plaque, holding it in place. Thedistal tip of the catheter is then advanced distally while holding thesnare fixed. In this manner, the snare is used to maneuver the fixed ormobile plaque into the tip of the catheter. Once the plaque is securedwithin the catheter tip, the plaque can be excised and retained withinthe catheter, with or without the assistance of suction. Thus, theplaque can be excised by the snare, or by a cutting assembly disposedwithin the distal tip of the catheter.

Thus far, we have described in FIGS. 3-7 a number of excising meanswhich are adapted to receive plaque through a side opening in thecutting assembly. FIG. 9A shows an alternative embodiment which isoriented to receive plaque material through an end opening. Catheter 50includes basket 221 attached at seam 220 to the catheter distal end. Thedistal region of basket 221 is attached to a contracting loop orinflation member 222 which is secured to catheter 50 by support wires223. In use, the contracting loop is narrowed as shown in FIG. 9B afterreceiving a plaque through the distal opening. Loop 222 narrows aboutthe plaque, and pinches the plaque as an excising mechanism, and theplaque falls into, and is securely retained by basket 221.

Another device which receives plaque through the distal end is depictedin FIG. 10. Housing 230 is attached to the distal end of catheter 50,and the housing terminates at distal surface 231. Surface 231 includesadjustable orifice 232 which is shaped to receive plaque when enlarged,and to thereafter narrow around the plaque material. Once trapped, theplaque is excised, either by pinching or by shearing with cutting blade233. FIG. 11A shows an alternative distal cutting assembly, having claws240 with sharpened distal edges 241 which can be operated to trap andremove plaque. This device receives plaque in its open configuration,depicted in FIG. 11B. In another embodiment, a device is provided asshown in FIG. 12A which receives plaque through a distal end opening.This device includes one or two substantially semispherical members 250and 251 which are attached to, and pivot about axis member 252. As shownin FIG. 12B, and in cross-section in FIG. 12C, the semispherical membersare pivoted about axis 252 in order to clamp down on plaque at thedistal end of catheter 50. Accordingly, the semispherical component mayhave sharpened edges where they meet when closed, in order to pinch offplaque and capture the debris within the housing of catheter 50. In afurther embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, catheter 50 is equippedwith clam shell members 280 and 283 which are pivotally coupled tocatheter 50 by axis members 281 and 284. Clam shells 280 and 283 mayhave sharpened edges to close on, and excise plaque, and may includeperforations 282 and 285 to permit blood flow out of the device when theclam shells are closed.

In another embodiment, an atherectomy catheter is provided as depictedin FIGS. 22 and 22A. Catheter 50 includes at its distal end a pluralityof clamping fingers 300 which are operable between an open and closedcondition. A fine filtration mesh 75 is disposed over fingers 300 and ispositioned to capture embolic material dislodged during atherectomy. Theatherectomy assembly further includes cutter 81 and suction lumen 82which remove plaque debris 98 loosely attached to the aorta, commoncarotid artery, external and internal carotid arteries, brachiocephalictrunk, middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, posteriorcerebral artery, vertebral artery, basilar artery, subclavian artery,brachial artery, axillary artery, iliac artery, renal artery, femoralartery, popliteal artery, celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery,inferior mesenteric artery, anterior tibial artery, posterior tibialartery and all other arteries carry oxygenated blood. In use, catheter50 approaches plaque 98 with open fingers 300 as depicted in FIG. 22A.Fingers 300 and mesh 75 are closed about plaque 98, and plaque 98 isengaged by cutter 81. Suction is applied to lumen 82 to remove finedebris resulting from the atherectomy procedure.

In another embodiment, a carotid/vertebral artery atherectomy catheteris provided as depicted in FIG. 17. Catheter 50 includes filtrationassembly 69 disposed in distal region 51. It will be understood that,during use, the catheter is inserted and guided upwardly through thedescending aorta until it reaches the aortic arch, whereupon thecatheter is guided into one of the carotid arteries, which include thebrachiocephalic trunk, the right common carotid artery, the rightinternal and external carotid arteries, the left common carotid artery,the left internal and external carotid arteries, the right subclavianartery, the left subclavian artery, and the right and left vertebralarteries. In these vessels, blood flow relative to the site ofatherectomy is toward the distal end of catheter 50. Accordingly,filtration assembly 69 is inverted and disposed distally to atherectomyassembly 80 on the catheter of FIG. 17. As noted above, atherectomyassembly 80 may further include suction means, cutting means, andvisualization means. The catheter may also be equipped with one or moredeployable positioning fingers 90 and 91 which act to bias the catheterin the lumen of the carotid artery toward a plaque within the region ofinterest. Positioning fingers 90 and 91 may comprise a mechanicalprojecting finger or one or more elastomeric balloons which areinflatable through one or more separate lumens within catheter 50.

In another embodiment, a guiding catheter is used to position andstabilize the atherectomy catheter within the vessel in a region ofinterest, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. With reference to FIG. 18,guiding catheter 92 may carry filtration assembly 69 and allow passageof the atherectomy catheter through lumen 93. The atherectomy catheteris therefore free of filtration, and can be operated without moving thefilter. Guide catheter 92 includes proximal region 94 adapted forpercutaneous insertion, and further includes hemostatic valve 95 at itsproximal end. In use, the guiding catheter will be positioned and itsfilter deployed. In a separate step, the atherectomy catheter will beadvanced through the guiding catheter and operated out of a distalopening. In other embodiments, the guiding catheter will have a bend(not shown) in its distal tip which will direct the atherectomy cathetertoward the aortic wall.

The guiding catheter may also be a positioning atherectomy guidecatheter which has deployable positioning fingers disposedcircumferentially around the guiding catheter to center the guidingcatheter in a vessel, or to bias the catheter to one side, as depictedin FIG. 19. Guiding catheter 92 includes lumen 93 adapted to receive anatherectomy catheter which, in this case, may also include a deployablefiltration system since guiding catheter 92 does not carry filtrationcapabilities. One, two, three, four, or more positioning fingers 90 and91 are included on the distal region of guide catheter 92, and may becomprised of mechanical expanding struts or elastomeric ornon-elastomeric balloons inflatable by one or more inflation lumens.Thus, a filter (FIG. 18) and/or deployable struts (FIG. 19) can centerthe guide catheter and thereby provide a stable platform from which tooperate the atherectomy catheter or can be used to bias a guide cathetertoward a plaque.

Deployable positioning fingers can also be used to center or bias anatherectomy catheter when used without a guide catheter. FIG. 20 depictscatheter 50 having filtration assembly 69 and atherectomy assembly 80deployed within aorta 99 and engaged about a plaque. Catheter 50 furtherincludes deployable positioning members 90 and 91 which, when deployed,bias atherectomy assembly 80 toward the plaque material. In anotherembodiment, one or more biasing members 90 and 91 displace the catheteraway from the center of the arterial lumen and to a direction away fromthe plaque material, as shown in FIG. 21. Catheter 50 includes steeringcapabilities within its distal region which allow the catheter to bendtoward the region of interest and thereby bring atherectomy assembly 80into contact with a plaque. Thus, biasing members 90 and 91 position theshaft of catheter 50 in a manner which allows adequate room for bendingof distal region 51 without having to turn a sharp corner.

In another embodiment, the catheter provides a biopsy-like tool asdepicted in FIGS. 23 and 23A. With reference to FIG. 23, the atherectomycatheter includes housing 321 at its distal end and shear 322 which ispivotally connected to housing 321. A side view of the catheter is shownin FIG. 23A. Shear 322 is operated by actuator 323. Housing 321 furtherincludes particle trapping material 324 such as particle trappingfilaments which hold excised plaque material in place so that it may notescape into the circulation when shear 322 is reopened. In use, thehousing receives a plaque through its distal opening. Actuator 323 isoperated proximally to pull shear 322 inward, thereby cutting theplaque. As shear 322 carries inward, it sweeps the plaque into thehousing where it becomes engaged by particle trapping filaments 324. Thedistal opening is then reopened to receive and excise another plaque,whereby plaque material builds up on, but does not escape from, housing321.

An aortic or femoral artery atherectomy procedure is conducted bydeploying the arterial atherectomy catheter through the femoral arteryin accordance with procedures well known in the art for coronaryatherectomy. The atherectomy catheter of FIG. 2 is advanced up thefemoral artery and optionally up the descending aorta until the catheterreaches the region of interest. One or more fluoroscopic markers may beincluded on the distal region of the catheter to permit fluoroscopicvisualization of the catheter as it advances on its path. Theatherectomy assembly is localized in the region of interest, and may bepositioned with guidance from any of a number of visualizationtechniques previously discussed. Means for visualization are especiallyimportant where the atherectomy catheter must be guided around andthrough the aortic arch. Moreover, a conventional guidewire and/orguiding catheter can be used to assist the maneuvering of theatherectomy catheter through the artery of interest. Once the catheteris located in the region of interest, the filtration mechanism isactivated to expand the filter so that substantially the entirecross-section of the vessel is covered by filter. An opening on theatherectomy assembly is positioned in close proximity to atheromatousplaque material, typically mobile aortic plaque, and a vacuum is appliedto one or more lumen of the catheter in order to draw plaque materialinto the opening. The vacuum functions both to securely hold the plaquematerial in place, and to ensure that materials dislodged during thecutting procedure are retained within the catheter device, and do notescape to form emboli. A cutting blade or means for cutting is thenactivated to excise plaque secured by vacuum. Once the atherectomyprocedure has been completed, the catheter may be repositioned to exciseadditional plaque, or withdrawn from the vessel. In either case, thefiltration means will be contracted to reduce its size and thereby allowmovement within the vessel without scraping against the lumen of theaorta. The catheter is thereafter either repositioned longitudinally orwithdrawn from the vessel to complete the procedure in accordance withmethods known in the art. Notably, all plaque material excised duringthis procedure remains trapped either within the catheter housing undersuction, or within the filtration mesh once collapsed. In this manner,the patient is protected from embolization during an aortic atherectomyprocedure.

While particular devices and methods have been described for performingatherectomy and filtering blood, once this description is known, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodimentsand alternative steps are also possible without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, it will be apparent thatcertain features of each embodiment as well as features disclosed ineach reference incorporated herein, can be used in combination withdevices illustrated in other embodiments. Accordingly, the abovedescription should be construed as illustrative, and not in a limitingsense, the scope of the invention being defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A catheter for removing plaque from a bloodvessel, comprising: a flexible elongate member having an outer surfaceand a distal region; expansion means disposed at the elongate memberwhich is expandable between a contracted condition and an enlargedcondition; a filter mesh movable relative to the outer surface andhaving a first edge and a second edge; the first edge attached to theexpansion means; the second edge closely associated with the outersurface of the flexible elongate member; and an atherectomy assemblydisposed within the distal region of the elongate member, theatherectomy assembly comprising means for plaque removal and trappingmeans, wherein during use plaque is trapped and held by the trappingmeans and excised from a blood vessel by the means for plaque removal.2. The catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexibleelongate member is equipped with steering capabilities.
 3. The catheterin accordance with claim 1, wherein the flexible elongate memberincludes a housing having a cavity adapted to receive and store excisedplaque material.
 4. The catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein theexpansion means comprises an umbrella frame having a plurality of armswhich, upon activation, bend outwardly to the enlarged condition.
 5. Thecatheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filter mesh is disposedcircumferentially about the elongate member.
 6. The catheter inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the filter mesh is disposed at a sideof the elongate member.
 7. The catheter in accordance with claim 1,wherein the filter mesh is disposed distally of a distal end of theelongate member.
 8. The catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein thefilter mesh is movable longitudinally relative to the elongate member.9. The catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the atherectomyassembly is disposed within the distal region of the elongate member anddistal to the expansion means and the filter mesh.
 10. The catheter inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the atherectomy assembly is disposedwithin the distal region of the elongate member and proximal to theexpansion means and the filter mesh.
 11. The catheter in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the elongate member extends through the filter mesh.12. The catheter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the expansion meanscomprises an inflation seal.
 13. The catheter in accordance with claim12, wherein the elongate member further comprises an inflation systemcomprising a first lumen adapted to receive pressurized fluid and asecond lumen adapted to evacuate gas, and wherein the inflation sealfurther includes an entry port in fluid communication with the firstlumen of the flexible elongate member, so that when fluid is advancedthrough the first lumen, the fluid enters the inflation seal and forcesgas from the inflation seal through the second lumen, thereby purgingthe system of gas.
 14. The catheter in accordance with claim 13, whereinthe inflation seal comprises a tubular balloon which encloses a chamber,and wherein the entry port and exit port are in close proximity, andwherein a septum is disposed between the entry and exit ports.
 15. Thecatheter in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a plurality ofholding strings which attach the inflation seal to the flexible elongatemember.
 16. The catheter in accordance with claim 12, wherein thetrapping means comprises a suction device.
 17. The catheter inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the trapping means comprises a snare.18. The catheter in accordance with claim 12, wherein the trapping meanscomprises a surface having an adjustable orifice.
 19. The catheter inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa cutting blade.
 20. The catheter in accordance with claim 12, whereinthe means for plaque removal comprises a snare.
 21. The catheter inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa surface having an adjustable orifice.
 22. The catheter in accordancewith claim 12, wherein the means for plaque removal comprises a baskethaving an adjustable opening adapted to close about the plaque andexcise a portion of the plaque by pinching.
 23. The catheter inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa plurality of claws which are movable between an open and closedposition.
 24. The catheter in accordance with claim 12, wherein themeans for plaque removal comprises first and second substantiallysemispherical surfaces pivotally connected to the elongate member andmovable between an open and closed position.
 25. The catheter inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa basket and a cutting wire having a first end anchored to the elongatemember and a second end which is drawn in a proximal direction, whereina segment of the cutting wire sweeps across the opening to the basketduring operation.
 26. The catheter in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising one or more positioning fingers disposed within the distalregion of the elongate member.
 27. A catheter for removing plaque from ablood vessel, comprising: a flexible elongate member having an outersurface and a distal region; an inflation seal expandable between acontracted position and an enlarged condition; an inflation systemcomprising a first lumen adapted to receive pressurized fluid and asecond lumen adapted to evacuate gas, and wherein the inflation sealfurther includes an entry port in fluid communication with the firstlumen of the flexible elongate member, so that When fluid is advancedthrough the first lumen, the fluid enters the inflation seal and forcesgas from the inflation seal through the second lumen, thereby purgingthe system of gas; a filter mesh movable relative to the outer surfaceand having a first edge and a second edge; the first edge attached tothe inflation seal; the second edge being disposed circumferentiallyrelative to the outer surface of the flexible elongate member; and anatherectomy assembly disposed within the distal region of the elongatemember, the atherectomy assembly comprising means for plaque removal andtrapping means, wherein during use plaque is trapped and held by thetrapping means and excised from a blood vessel by the means for plaqueremoval.
 28. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein theflexible elongate member is equipped with steering capabilities.
 29. Thecatheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein the flexible elongatemember includes a housing having a cavity adapted to receive and storeexcised plaque material.
 30. The catheter in accordance with claim 27,wherein the inflation seal comprises an umbrella frame having aplurality of arms which, upon activation, bend outwardly to the enlargedcondition.
 31. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein theatherectomy assembly is disposed within the distal region of theelongate member and distal to the inflation seal and the filter mesh.32. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein the atherectomyassembly is disposed within the distal region of the elongate member andproximal to the inflation seal and the filter mesh.
 33. The catheter inaccordance with claim 27, wherein the elongate member extends throughthe filter mesh.
 34. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, whereinthe inflation seal comprises a tubular balloon which encloses a chamber,and wherein the entry port and exit port are in close proximity, andwherein a septum is disposed between the entry and exit ports.
 35. Thecatheter in accordance with claim 27, further comprising a plurality ofholding strings which attach the inflation seal to the flexible elongatemember.
 36. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein thetrapping means comprises a suction device.
 37. The catheter inaccordance with claim 27, wherein the trapping means comprises a snare.38. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein the trapping meanscomprises a surface having an adjustable orifice.
 39. The catheter inaccordance with claim 27, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa cutting blade.
 40. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, whereinthe means for plaque removal comprises a snare.
 41. The catheter inaccordance with claim 27, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa surface having an adjustable orifice.
 42. The catheter in accordancewith claim 27, wherein the means for plaque removal comprises a baskethaving an adjustable opening adapted to close about the plaque andexcise a portion of the plaque by pinching.
 43. The catheter inaccordance with claim 27, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa plurality of claws which are movable between an open and closedposition.
 44. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, wherein themeans for plaque removal comprises first and second substantiallysemispherical surfaces pivotally connected to the elongate member andmovable between an open and closed position.
 45. The catheter inaccordance with claim 27, wherein the means for plaque removal comprisesa basket and a cutting wire having a first end anchored to the elongatemember and a second end which is drawn in a proximal direction, whereina segment of the cutting wire sweeps across the opening to the basketduring operation.
 46. The catheter in accordance with claim 27, furthercomprising one or more positioning fingers disposed within the distalregion of the elongate member.
 47. A catheter for removing plaque from ablood vessel, comprising: a flexible elongate member having an outersurface and a distal region; expansion means disposed at the elongatemember which is expandable between a contracted condition and anenlarged condition; a filter mesh longitudinally movable relative to theouter surface and having a first edge and a second edge; the first edgeattached to the expansion means; the second edge being disposedcircumferentially relative to the outer surface of the flexible elongatemember; and an atherectomy assembly disposed within the distal region ofthe elongate member, the atherectomy assembly comprising means forplaque removal and a suction device, wherein during use plaque istrapped and held by the suction device and excised from a blood vesselby the means for plaque removal.
 48. The catheter in accordance withclaim 47, wherein the flexible elongate member is equipped with steeringcapabilities.
 49. The catheter in accordance with claim 47, wherein theflexible elongate member includes a housing having a cavity adapted toreceive and store excised plaque material.
 50. The catheter inaccordance with claim 47, wherein the expansion means comprises anumbrella frame having a plurality of arms which, upon activation, bendoutwardly to the enlarged condition.
 51. The catheter in accordance withclaim 47, wherein the atherectomy assembly is disposed within the distalregion of the elongate member and distal to the expansion means and thefilter mesh.
 52. The catheter in accordance with claim 47, wherein theatherectomy assembly is disposed within the distal region of theelongate member and proximal to the expansion means and the filter mesh.53. The catheter in accordance with claim 47, wherein the elongatemember extends through the filter mesh.
 54. The catheter in accordancewith claim 47, wherein the expansion means comprises an inflation seal.55. The catheter in accordance with claim 54, wherein the elongatemember further comprises an inflation system comprising a first lumenadapted to receive pressurized fluid and a second lumen adapted toevacuate gas, and wherein the inflation seal further includes an entryport in fluid communication with the first lumen of the flexibleelongate member, so that when fluid is advanced through the first lumen,the fluid enters the inflation seal and forces gas from the inflationseal through the second lumen, thereby purging the system of gas. 56.The catheter in accordance with claim 55, wherein the inflation sealcomprises a tubular balloon which encloses a chamber, and wherein theentry port and exit port are in close proximity, and wherein a septum isdisposed between the entry and exit ports.
 57. The catheter inaccordance with claim 53, further comprising a plurality of holdingstrings which attach the inflation seal to the flexible elongate member.58. The catheter in accordance with claim 53, wherein the trapping meanscomprises a snare.
 59. The catheter in accordance with claim 53, whereinthe trapping means comprises a surface having an adjustable orifice. 60.The catheter in accordance with claim 53, wherein the means for plaqueremoval comprises a cutting blade.
 61. The catheter in accordance withclaim 53, wherein the means for plaque removal comprises a snare. 62.The catheter in accordance with claim 53, wherein the means for plaqueremoval comprises a surface having an adjustable orifice.
 63. Thecatheter in accordance with claim 54, wherein the means for plaqueremoval comprises a basket having an adjustable opening adapted to closeabout the plaque and excise a portion of the plaque by pinching.
 64. Thecatheter in accordance with claim 54, wherein the means for plaqueremoval comprises a plurality of claws which are movable between an openand closed position.
 65. The catheter in accordance with claim 54,wherein the means for plaque removal comprises first and secondsubstantially semispherical surfaces pivotally connected to the elongatemember and movable between an open and closed position.
 66. The catheterin accordance with claim 54, wherein the means for plaque removalcomprises a basket and a cutting wire having a first end anchored to theelongate member and a second end which is drawn in a proximal direction,wherein a segment of the cutting wire sweeps across the opening to thebasket during operation.
 67. The catheter in accordance with claim 48,further comprising one or more positioning fingers disposed within thedistal region of the elongate member.